Spain - Realm of the Iberian Lynx Naturetrek Tour Report 23 - 28 October 2017 Iberian Lynx by Stephen Debenham Iberian Lynx by Penny Fleming Iberian Grey Shrike by Penny Fleming Iberian Magpies by Penny Fleming Report compiled by Niki Williamson & Simon Tonkin Images courtesy of Penny Fleming and Stephen Debenham Naturetrek Mingledown Barn Wolf's Lane Chawton Alton Hampshire GU34 3HJ UK T: +44 (0)1962 733051 E:
[email protected] W: www.naturetrek.co.uk Tour Report Spain - Realm of the Iberian Lynx Tour participants: Simon Tonkin and Niki Williamson (leaders) and a group of 11 Naturetrek clients Summary This two-base tour took in the atmospheric misty woodlands and wetlands of Doñana Natural Park, as well as the sweeping cork oak forests of the Sierra Morena near Andùjar. The group were thrilled by close encounters with Wild Boar, rutting Red and Fallow Deer, Egyptian Mongoose, Iberian Hare and two species of bats, as well as an impressive array of mountain, wetland and farmland birds, including Blue Rock Thrush, Azure-winged Magpies, Eurasian Hoopoe, Southern Grey Shrike, Cinereous Vulture, Crag Martin, Black-winged Stilts, Eurasian Spoonbills, and European Eagle-Owl. But of course, the outstanding highlight was our intense, prolonged experience with Fraile, a nine-year-old male Iberian Lynx, with whom we shared enthralling times at dawn and dusk as he rested and preened between bouts of devouring a recently killed Red Deer. Day 1 Monday 23rd October Simon and Niki met with Venetia, who had been enjoying a stay in Seville for a couple of days prior to the trip, at the airport.